California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176
HON. MARVIN SIMPSON. Adding to the prestige of an honored family name the impetus of his own
forceful personality, Mr. Simpson has gained a reputation for capability and enterprise, and deservedly
is honored as one of the public-spirited men of Fresno county. His worth as a citizen has been
recognized from his youth and his influence has been felt by all coming in contact with him in local
gatherings or in committee work. As a stanch upholder of Democratic principles, he possesses influence
among the local workers of the party and further has wielded influence in the councils of state. On the
regular party ticket in 1900 he was elected to represent the sixty-third legislative ticket (now the sixty-
first) in the lower house of the state legislature, receiving a fair majority of the ballots of the people. In
the session of 1901 he served as a member of the committees on claims, prison and reformatory
institutions, public morals and election laws, in each capacity proving himself to be intelligently
informed concerning the needs of the people and the importance of careful legislative action. On the
expiration of his term he declined to be a candidate for re-election, and has since devoted himself to
the management of his large landed interests.
A lifelong resident of Fresno county, Marvin Simpson was born at Academy August 31, 1869, and was
fourth among the children of John G. and Sarah M. (Baley) Simpson, concerning whom mention
appears elsewhere in this work. When he was eight years of age his father died and afterward he
remained on the homestead with his mother, receiving such advantages as the Academy school district
afforded. Upon attaining his majority he started out for himself, receiving as his share of the estate an
amount sufficient to give him an excellent start in the world. Stock-raising and general farming have
been his hobbies (if such they may be called), and there is no department of activity in connection with
these specialties that he cannot handle judiciously and with promptness.
It was during 1893 that Marvin Simpson settled on his present place near Letcher, Fresno county, and
began the series of improvements that have converted the property into one of the most desirable for
many miles around. Included in the homestead are four hundred and twenty acres three-fourths of a
mile east of Academy, in addition to which Mr. Simpson owns five hundred and twenty acres lying on
sections 16, 9 and 8, township 12, range 22; also six hundred and forty acres on sections 26 and 27,
township 12, range 22; and in addition about six hundred acres in the foothills and mountains where he
ranges his cattle in the summer months; also, in partnership with his mother, two hundred and forty
acres on the Middle Fork of the Kings river, forming fine meadow land; and lastly a tract of forty acres
five miles northwest of Fresno. The possession of so large a landed estate makes Mr. Simpson one of
the most extensive property owners of his community and gives to him, at an early period of life,
considerable influence among the cattlemen and grain-raisers of the eastern half of Fresno county.
Some years ago he sold fiftyone acres which is now being developed into a granite quarry, opening, a
new industry on Big Dry creek and furnishing monumental granite than which none finer can be found
in the entire state.
The marriage of Marvin Simpson was solemnized in Woodville, Tulare county, and united him with Miss
Ida May Hedgepeth, who was born, reared and educated in California, and possesses qualities
admirably adapting her for high social position. Of their union the children are Myrtle, William Robert
and Elizabeth Irene. Mrs. Simpson is a daughter of Rev. Joel and Hester (Anderson) Hedgepeth, natives
respectively of Missouri and California, and among the seven children of the family (all but one still
living) she was second in order of birth. When a young man Mr. Hedgepeth crossed the plains as a
member of Governor Edwards' party, some of whom were massacred on the Colorado river in an
attack made by Indians. The survivors of the ill-fated expedition, deprived of their oxen, were forced to
walk back to Albuquerque, where they arrived in a famished condition. The trials of that memorable
journey were borne by women as well as men with fortitude and heroism, and when eventualfy they
reached their destination they had little inclination ever again to brave the terrors of hunger and thirst
on the desert. For a long period Mr. Hedgepeth taught school in the central part of California, and in
that occupation his splendid education (largely acquired by self-culture) enabled him to wield a large
influence for good over the students under his supervision. Eventually he concentrated his time and
attention to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in whose work he has been active
throughout the state and now preaches to the congregation at Academy. Mentally he is in his prime,
although sixty-four busy years have left their traces on face and form. In the respect of the community
and the affection of his parishioners he occupies an enviable position and with his wife, who also
survives, he is enjoying the comfort possible to the twentieth-century citizens of the state.
In their denominational connections Mr. and Mrs. Simpson affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal
Church South, in which he serves as a member of the board of trustees and has been a generous
contributor to all church activities. In fraternal relations he holds membership with the Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks at Fresno. Besides the office of assemblyman previously mentioned, he has
served as school trustee for one term, but with these exceptions has declined official recognition, his
tastes being less toward public service than toward the peaceful pursuit of his chosen occupation.